Grand Rapids wants Open Carry lawsuit tossed out. This is one of the most viewed open carry videos. The comments in the story by the city attorney are outrageous.

Laws don't make things legal, they make them illegal. The only way to allow something in law is to first make it illegal then write in provisions for how someone can become a special exception to the rule.

Case in point: The conceal Carry law first lays out that it is illegal to carry, and provides punishments. Then later on they provide exceptions to the law, one of which asking permission to carry with a license provided that you carry it with you at all times and hand it over (Papers Please) any time a cop asks for it to prove your innocence so you don't get arrested for breaking the first part of the law that makes it illegal.

But if that is too confusing for you, here is the ultimate test to see if Concealing is a Right or not in your state: Would you be okay with the gov't requiring a license to pray to God?

I mean, you still have a RIGHT to pray... right? You just need to pass a background check, get fingerprinted, provide a photo ID, and carry this card on you any time you pray so you can prove to a cop any time he demands your Prayer License to prove your innocence so you don't get arrested for praying. But hey, it's mandatory Shall Issue, so why complain?

Is it really still a Right if they did that?

What is the definition of a Right? Something you can do, simply because you are you, without having to ask permission from anyone but yourself an is universal to all persons.

The fact that they make you ask permission means they took that Right from you, even if it's a Shall Issue situation... especially because laws can change. We didn't even HAVE licensing laws to allow people to conceal until recently (historically speaking) Most of those CC laws were writing in the late 1800's, and licensing didn't start up until the 60's/70's in many states. Almost 100 years it was flat out illegal to CC and no exceptions.

Is it still a Right? Yes... but the gov't doesn't think so.

/r/AmIFreeToGo Thread Link - mlive.com